Andipose, thank you once again for your review. I'm glad to see you're liking the story.
Chapter 11: Gifts
Javelin had a plan in motion. When they got back to the village, he dropped Hiccup off at the forge. Managing to avoid Stoick, who came back earlier that day from his dragon hunt, the soldier made his way to the Arena.
Once inside, he opened all the cages, expecting to see five sleeping dragons. He pulled the doors open manually and slowly to avoid any noise.
Sharpshot woke up from the blast of air. Drowsy, he searched around the door for whoever opened it. He went from tired to energetic in the blink of an eye. "Crimson, you're back!" he squeaked, flying to the human.
Javelin caught him in his arms. "Good to see you too, friend," he replied, the Terror nuzzling into his neck in affection. It was returned with a hand rubbing down his back. "Who was taken out today?"
"It was Stormfly," Sharpshot answered, gesturing to the sleeping Nadder. "Took a nasty hit from what I heard."
"Thanks." He set the little guy down and moved towards Stormfly's cell. He was originally going to tap on the wall to wake her up. Instead, she sniffed the air for a certain smell.
"What's a Night Fury doing here?" the Deadly Nadder squawked, half-asleep.
"No, Storm, it's just me," Javelin said as he knelt in front of her.
"But your scent," two more sniffs, "I-I can barely smell your own scent." Stormfly looked at the human for an answer.
"How? Stuff like that doesn't... just..." His mind drifted back to Twilight. 'Brother and sister by blood.' He also sniffed the air.
There it was. It wasn't strong to his senses yet, but it was there.
A smile. "I have dragon blood in my veins. Twilight is now my actual sister, and I am her brother. A family by bonded blood."
"Congrats."
Javelin nodded in thanks. "Now, where did you get hit?"
Twilight stared at her now healed paw with joy. She finally had a true brother. No more adopted.
They were truly brother and sister.
She and Toothless decided to walk back to the Cove after dropping off Javelin and Hiccup. Those two were also family now.
She, Toothless, Javelin, and Hiccup were a family. And they would continue to be one no matter what.
"This is the happiest I've seen you since we met," Toothless spoke, throwing her mind into chaos.
"Today was the same for you." She smiled, her pupils large and round.
"I know. Being able to fly again was... freeing. I was alive," Toothless said, also smiling. "I was free and so was Hiccup. Just the two of us."
"So where was I during that time, hmm?" She did her best to put a little condenscending tone in her voice.
"No, I didn't mean it like that," Toothless panicked. "I mean I... Oh, great."
The dragoness laughed. "You're cute when you're speechless. I like you, Toothless."
It took a while for him to form any words. Eventually, he spoke softly, "I- I like you, too, Twi."
She gave him a skeptical look. "Do you really?"
Toothless quickly nodded. "Yes. I love you."
They both slept through the night in peace, the stress of their unspoken love gone.
"Javelin..."
His eyes opened. His vision cleared to reveal the pine forest surrounding him, bathed in mist. He wasn't startled by the fact that he wasn't doing a handstand on a rock somewhere, balancing on his right arm.
No, he was meditating.
He slowly got up and searched for the voice. It didn't take him long, since the carrier strolled into view. He donned jet black armor with several specks of silver on his right shoulder. His helmetless face sported a small goatee and was otherwise cleanshaven. The man was the leader of one of the most famous squads in the Corps.
"Triton," Javelin breathed. "What are you doing here?"
"The same as you, ner vod: seeking." Triton flashed a smile.
"I'm supposed to be the cryptic one, Tri." Javelin gestured for a walk, which the other soldier accepted. They moved side-by-side through the woods.
"You're worried."
The crimson commando nodded. "Yes. I fear for Twilight and Hiccup."
"Not just them, brother. Hookfang and the other dragons are in your mind as well." Triton ducked under a low branch.
"Yes. I know what will be done, but I don't want to risk losing him. My sister wouldn't be able to stand the pain if Hookfang dies." Javelin rubbed his face and let out a long sigh. "I wonder whether his colors were a coincidence or part of God's plan."
They stopped at a small stream and sat on the bank. "I don't want her to lose a family a second time," he said behind his hands, struggling to keep it together.
Triton stayed silent. Speak your words, ner vod.
"My brothers fell because I wasn't able to protect them. Her parents - our parents and friends died because I wasn't fast or strong enough." A tear raced down his cheek, followed by another.
Triton placed a hand on the Hunter's shoulder. "Javelin, you are none of those things. It is natural to feel that way. You did your best to keep the attackers away as long as possible. Your sister's parents died defending each other, so that you could get away."
The tears became a waterfall, splashing into the stream below.
"Your brothers did the same for you."
Javelin took a few shaky breaths. "You're right. Better for a thread to remain than have the whole rope cut."
"There's the Javelin I know," the man chuckled.
"What am I going to do with what I see happening?" The Crimson Rider looked up at the night sky.
"Let the events unfold by themselves. Don't try to change the outcome," Triton advised. He got up and started to walk away, but stopped. Body facing north and eyes to the northeast, he gave a final word, "I would suggest bringing Twilight to the Arena tomorrow night. It's the best thing you can do for her and Hookfang."
Javelin nodded to confirm both the suggestion and gesture.
He opened his eyes and saw the ground beneath him. Maintaining his balance, he shifted his weight to both of his arms and returned to a handstand. Soon enough, the man was standing upright.
Javelin's mind was going over what Triton had said. His heart had a burden lifted... for now. He knew what the Death Squad leader said would ebb away sometime in the future. The commando focused on the cove's serenity in an effort to avoid thinking too hard.
Beep.
He grabbed his helmet and put it on. Another transponder signal had been activated. His advanced HUD caught it coming from... the same place where he found the cargo last time. The location was confirmed. Javelin double-timed it. He raced through the forest with the grace of a raptor.
Surprisingly, his mysterious benefactors were still there. The transport craft was an older model based on the LAAT/i gunships of the Clone Wars. It was smaller and had only one pilot seat, the slope was lower, and the wings were replaced by smaller stabilizer fins.
Two people were kneeling over a small crate. They both wore the same armor, but marked themselves with different colors. One had electric blue running over a mottled black background with no apparent pattern. His friend wore dark green armor with three white stripes running down his helmet. This guy had his hands moving along a panel.
The crimson commando smirked. He knew these two well. Chainlink, and his second-in-command Minn, had a reputation in the Corps. They used Death Squad as a role model and were in the same platoon. Knowing him, Minn was most likely setting up a detonator. Chain looked up to see Javelin walking into the small clearing.
"Well hello, Javelin," the Phantom leader greeted. He got to his feet and approached the other soldier.
He looked around cautiously. "Ryyk isn't here, is he?" They knew that the fellow Hunter was one of their best alongside Firewing. The only problem was he had an ego to go with his skills.
"No. Triton has him at base."
"Where his bladework is best used on keeping us on our toes," Minn added, focusing completely on his work.
"So the Corps is here?" Javelin asked.
Chainlink shrugged. "Whoever came through with him and survived the impacts. What's our count, Minn?"
"278 last time I checked." A spark of electricity flashed. The demolitions expert closed the panel and stood up. "Charge is online."
Javelin observed the crate. "So what's the present this time?"
Minn waved a hand. "Take a look."
He opened the container to find a metal shield shaped like those on Berk. With his helmet, Javelin got the color to a dark gold. His squad insignia spanned the diameter. Written on the back was Brothers' Protection. Javelin was stunned. "How did you make this?"
Minn glared at him. "Don't look at me."
"Believe it or not, Triton saw that design during meditation," Chain said. "Ryan built it to the finest detail."
"I knew he was interested in the old Mandalorian ways, but this... this is perfection." He unsheathed Peacebringer and did several swings. "This will work well." He put away the sword and connected the shield to his back. "It was very good to see you again, guys."
Minn shook Javelin's hand. "Same here, vod."
The Phantom leader saluted instead. "Remember: you will never be alone."
Javelin nodded and stepped back as the others boarded the transport. He watched the craft rise over the trees and head off. When they disappeared, he activated the panel on the box.
He swept the ashes away and walked off. His mind went back to the shield with a sense of familiarity. Then it clicked. Gold represented vengance in his culture and red was to honor family. Determination swept in.
"I will avenge you."
(AN) - Whoo. Hope you had a good time. So this chapter was just for setting things up in the long run (hint hint). And this is a SW/HTTYD crossover, so I had to put something in.
I guess you can say I based Javelin's 'conservation' with Triton on Episode V, just without the whole Jedi cliche crap.
Until next time, guys. OYA!